Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/24/2002 01:36 PM Senate HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 352-SCHOOL PERFORMANCE REPORTS
DR. MARK LEAL, Department of Education and Early Development
(DOEED), reminded members that Senator Wilken requested more
information about reporting requirements at a prior meeting.
Senator Wilken was concerned about the number of asterisks on the
school report card because DOEED did not report student results
if fewer than 10 students were tested. As a result, he worked
with Dr. Nick Stayrook from Fairbanks and Gary Wiley (ph) from
Kenai to resolve that problem and brought an example of a format
for the committee's review. DOEED would, through department
regulation, report the results of student testing at very small
schools by the percent proficient for the entire school.
Therefore, if a school had two or three students in each grade
level, the total number of students of all grade levels would be
added for each subject - reading, writing and math, and the
percent proficient in that subject across all grade levels would
be published.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN informed members that their packets contain a
list of Alaska schools and their student populations. The smaller
schools range from 11 schools with 10 students to six schools
with one student. DOEED will aggregate the scores of all students
from the small schools and determine the percentage proficient in
each subject so that no student can be identified. She asked Dr.
Leal if her understanding is correct.
DR. LEAL said it is and that this approach will get at the
frustration that nothing is reported about particular schools.
The information will not be as precise as the grade level
information, but that information cannot be reported because of
the a possible breach of confidentiality when dealing with a
small number of students. One of DOEED's concerns about reporting
the small numbers, even on an aggregate basis, is that very small
numbers tend to fluctuate dramatically from year to year. One
student's scores could skew the results and make it look like the
school is improving while, in reality, the change is the result
of one new student with high scores. He said DOEED will caution
against making wild claims about improvements for very small
groups of students tested.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if this method will be used until the full
report card is published or whether this method will continue
after the designator committee is in place.
DR. LEAL said this method will be the protocol for how DOEED
reports data in the school report cards in the future.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked Senator Wilken if he is satisfied that in
the meantime the information provided to the legislature will be
adequate.
SENATOR WILKEN said he is. He commented that he thought using the
method would be a simple fix but he has since been shown it is
much more complex. He is pleased with DOEED's attempt to make it
understandable to most people. He feels the most important thing
is to get as much detail as possible without violating privacy
rules but that should be dealt with in regulation, not
legislation. He said he appreciates the work that Dr. Leal has
done.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced that all members were present. She
then noted the Senate version of this legislation already moved
from this committee but she requested that it be returned. She
feels this legislation is now something everyone can be proud of.
SENATOR WARD moved CSHB 352(HES)am from committee with individual
recommendations and its accompanying fiscal note. There being no
objection, the motion carried.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced the committee would take up HB 209.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|